Colt Lightning Rifle malfunction

MANDRAKKE · March 2, 2005, 11:52 AM

The rifle has always worked perfectly until I disassembled it for cleaning. After reassembling, I have the following problem: when I close the slide, and a new cartridge comes out of the magazine tube, it does not run horizontally but its bottom goes up, so it cannot be placed on the cartridge-carrier horizontally. This seems to be caused by the magazine gate catch, which pushes the round upward while it exits the magazine. The result is that the rifle jams as I try to close the slide. Can you help me finding the assembly schematic? (may be I reassebled some part in the wrong way). Thank You!

**James K** · March 5, 2005, 09:42 PM

Holy mackerel! I assume this is one of the repros, as I can't imagine anyone shooting an original. Anyway, I think you can install the gate latch spring upside down and it could be the problem if that was done. Just a WAG, though.

Jim

**Mike Irwin** · March 7, 2005, 04:18 PM

A friend of mine has several Lightning rifles that he fires often.

I've fired them a bit, myself.

I'd love to have one, but spendy...

art greenberg · March 18, 2005, 05:54 PM

Hello, I would love to shoot my 38-55 Lightning...anyone have any ammo laying around ? The gun is about 85 to 89% and I would consider selling......

**Mike Irwin** · March 19, 2005, 11:22 AM

I still see .38-55 fairly regularly at gun shows, Art.

But, you're not looking for .38-55 ammo, the Lightning rifle was never chambered for that round.

You're looking for .38-56, which is a shorter, bottlenecked round based on the .45-70 case necked down, and which can be quite a bit harder to find.

I've never seen a box of this at a gunshow that hasn't been very expensive -- collector ammo.

However, someone posted links for finding obsolete ammo in another thread in this forum in the last couple of days.

art greenberg · March 19, 2005, 02:16 PM

Thank You I stand corrected...38-56 is the correct round...the gun is still for sale.

March 2, 2005, 11:52 AM	#1
MANDRAKKE Junior Member Join Date: March 2, 2005 Posts: 1	Colt Lightning Rifle malfunction The rifle has always worked perfectly until I disassembled it for cleaning. After reassembling, I have the following problem: when I close the slide, and a new cartridge comes out of the magazine tube, it does not run horizontally but its bottom goes up, so it cannot be placed on the cartridge-carrier horizontally. This seems to be caused by the magazine gate catch, which pushes the round upward while it exits the magazine. The result is that the rifle jams as I try to close the slide. Can you help me finding the assembly schematic? (may be I reassebled some part in the wrong way). Thank You! Last edited by MANDRAKKE; March 2, 2005 at 02:11 PM.

March 5, 2005, 09:42 PM	#2
James K Staff Join Date: March 17, 1999 Posts: 16,435	Holy mackerel! I assume this is one of the repros, as I can't imagine anyone shooting an original. Anyway, I think you can install the gate latch spring upside down and it could be the problem if that was done. Just a WAG, though. Jim __________________ Jim K

March 7, 2005, 04:18 PM	#3
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,139	A friend of mine has several Lightning rifles that he fires often. I've fired them a bit, myself. I'd love to have one, but spendy... __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 18, 2005, 05:54 PM	#4
art greenberg Junior Member Join Date: March 15, 2005 Posts: 9	Lightning Shooter Hello, I would love to shoot my 38-55 Lightning...anyone have any ammo laying around ? The gun is about 85 to 89% and I would consider selling......

March 19, 2005, 11:22 AM	#5
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 14, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 33,139	I still see .38-55 fairly regularly at gun shows, Art. But, you're not looking for .38-55 ammo, the Lightning rifle was never chambered for that round. You're looking for .38-56, which is a shorter, bottlenecked round based on the .45-70 case necked down, and which can be quite a bit harder to find. I've never seen a box of this at a gunshow that hasn't been very expensive -- collector ammo. However, someone posted links for finding obsolete ammo in another thread in this forum in the last couple of days. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

March 19, 2005, 02:16 PM	#6
art greenberg Junior Member Join Date: March 15, 2005 Posts: 9	38-55/56 Thank You I stand corrected...38-56 is the correct round...the gun is still for sale.